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Atheists expand kids’ ranch suit
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by Cara Harshman
Thursday, November 1, 2007
A Madison-based group of atheists and agnostics expanded its lawsuit against the state of North Dakota Tuesday for providing public funding to the Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch, a Christian-based rehabilitation center for troubled youth.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation promotes the separation of church and state and files lawsuits against organizations that it says use taxpayers’ dollars to promote religion.
The foundation is currently in the middle of a lawsuit against the Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch, which, according a complaint to the U.S. District Court filed by the FFRF, uses public money “to modify behavior by directing children to find faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.”
The FFRF is suing individuals it believes responsible for funding the ranch. The foundation added three North Dakota state officials to the existing list of three defendants Tuesday: North Dakota Superintendent of Public Instruction Wayne Sanstead, Department of Human Services Director Carol Olson and Pierce County Social Services Director Mary Hermanson.
Already on the list are of North Dakota Juvenile Services Director Lisa Bjergaard, Ward County Social Services Director Daniel Richter and the ranch itself.
According to the complaint filed by the FFRF, children with behavioral or emotional problems are committed to the Boys and Girls Ranch by the state of North Dakota and are required to participate in all Christian-based activities such as prayers at meals and church attendance while staying on the ranch.
Non-Christian religious practices are not allowed on the ranch premises, according to the complaint.
Annie Laurie Gaylor, co-president of the FFRF, said she is appalled the ranch receives public money when it is clearly based on religious ideals.
“We are asking for the government to stop funding the Boys and Girls ranch and stop sending kids there if they are going to promote religion,” Gaylor said.
Gene Kaseman, president of the ranch, told the Associated Press that though 80 percent of the funding the ranch receives is public, only the 20 percent of private funding is used to support Christian activities.
But Gaylor said there is no possible way the ranch can divide public money from private donations.
“It’s smoke and mirrors,” Gaylor said. “You cannot separate out money in that behavior.”
The foundation was prompted to take action against the ranch by numerous angry North Dakota taxpayers who are unhappy with how their dollars are being spent, according to Gaylor.
“Children are sent [to the ranch] by the government, and taxpayers are paying for it,” Gaylor said. “I don’t think it will help someone who is alienated already to have religion pushed on them. This seems like something from another era.”
Rob Howard, University of Wisconsin assistant professor of communication arts and religious studies, said he is glad this case is opening public discussion about religious practices because it is a very heated, yet delicate subject.
“If we don’t give money to Christian organizations but we give money to secular organizations, are we discriminating against Christian organizations?” Howard asked.
Anonymous (November 1, 2007 @ 8:13am):
"If we don't give money to Christian organizations but we give money to secular organizations..."
...then we are keeping church and state separate, juast like the US Constitution requires.
Anonymous (November 1, 2007 @ 12:44pm):
If only the university press in North Dakota were so active.
Anonymous (November 1, 2007 @ 12:46pm):
Dear 8:13,
The constitution does not require us to keep the church and state "separate".
It requires the congress to never establish a national religion.
You should actually read the constitution the way it was written at some point. And browse the Federalist Papers which may shed some light on why the framers did what they did.
Anonymous (November 1, 2007 @ 5:15pm):
"I believe that religion, generally speaking, has been a curse to mankind--that its modest and greatly overestimated services on the ethical side have been more than overcome by the damage it has done to clear and honest thinking.
I believe that no discovery of fact, however trivial, can be wholly useless to the race, and that no trumpeting of falsehood, however virtuous in intent, can be anything but vicious. . .
I believe that the evidence for immortality is no better than the evidence of witches, and deserves no more respect.
I believe in the complete freedom of thought and speech . . .
I believe in the capacity of man to conquer his world, and to find out what it is made of, and how it is run.
I believe in the reality of progress.
But the whole thing, after all, may be put very simply. I believe that it is better to tell the truth than to lie. I believe that it is better to be free than to be a slave. And I believe that it is better to know than be ignorant.
-- Mencken's Creed, cited by George Seldes in Great Thoughts "
Anonymous (November 1, 2007 @ 5:16pm):
Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call to her tribunal every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blindfolded fear.
-Thomas Jefferson, letter to Peter Carr Aug. 10, 1787
Reboot Now (December 3, 2007 @ 9:46am):
The xian part financed from the 20% private funds eh?
Ok, Ocifer, 0.1% alcohol maybe right, but the other 99.9% of my blood is sober.
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